Indescribable

Read: Revelation 4

From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. Revelation 4:5

IN WORD

This throne room is no ordinary place. The One seated on the throne has the appearance of jasper and ruby, and a rainbow encircles Him. This place—or realm or dimension—is pulsing with electric energy and beating with the sound of thunder. And if that weren’t overwhelming enough, there are seven blazing torches in front of the throne and odd, all-seeing creatures around it. And the torches are the seven spirits of God.

Seven spirits? We describe God as a Trinity—three beings who are distinct persons yet the same essence—and Scripture repeatedly calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit, not a Spirit. Yet the visions of Revelation also tell us there are seven spirits. What are we to make of that?

Do the seven spirits correlate with the seven churches of Revelation? If so, why not more? There were far more churches in that era than the seven to which John addressed his letters. Do the seven spirits represent distinct characteristics or functions of God? If so, why aren’t those characteristics or functions explained to us? We don’t know the answers to these questions. All we can say is that the revealed God is still surrounded with mystery, He’s more than our finite minds can comprehend.

IN DEED

That’s what we learn from this vision—not that God is revealed as more definable but that He is revealed as more overwhelming. If we have tried to make a systematic theology out of Scripture and turn truth into a formula or a clear, schematic design, we have all our categories undone when we get a glimpse of God. This King will not be defined or even understood. He can only be experienced—and only by those who are willing to relate to someone as bold as thunder, as unpredictable as lightning, as creative as creatures and colors can tell us, and as purposeful as seven spirits on a mission.

ADDITIONAL READING: Ezekiel 1

The radiance of the divine beauty is wholly inexpressible; words cannot describe it, nor the ear grasp it.

FATHER PHILIMON